Hydraulic mechanisms of the uneven enrichment of soil organic carbon in sediments during rain-induced overland flow

Organic carbon (OC) can be unevenly enriched in different-sized sediment particles under low-intensity, rain-induced overland flows, but its hydraulic mechanisms are not completely understood. Hence, in this study, the hydraulic transport mechanisms of unevenly enriched OC between different-sized sediment particles were investigated through simulated rainfall experiments at gradients of 5°, 10°, and 15° and typical regional rainfall intensities of 45, 90, and 120 mm h(−1). Results showed that the critical flow velocity of aggregate transport through loess soil was approximately 0.08 m s(−1). When the flow velocity was larger than this critical value, the aggregate loss amount increased quickly and exponentially. Flow velocities lower than 0.08 m s(−1) were determined to be essential conditions for uneven OC enrichment between sediment particles. At such velocities, even when the runoff depth was greater than 0.0018 m, the enrichment ratio of soil organic carbon (SOC; ER(oc)) values in all size classes of sediment particles was larger than 1.0. Small runoff depths caused preferential OC enrichment in silt and clay, whereas large runoff depths promoted OC enrichment in the >0.25 mm size class of sediment particles. The critical flow velocity and transport way differ between these high-OC-concentration clay and silt and large light organic particles. The interaction between flow velocity and runoff depth on ERocs in <0.05 mm particles was larger than that of >0.05 mm particles. Under the transport limit erosion, the flow velocity and stream power positively correlated with uneven ER(ocs) in different size sediment particles through distinct laws. Slope and rainfall intensity could not be ignored in predicting uneven OC enrichment in sediments by interacting with hydraulic factor and effecting aggregate stripping, respectively. Hydraulic factors mainly affected the uneven OC enrichment by controlling particle selective detachment and transport process. Owing to the different hydraulic mechanisms of OC enrichment in different size particles, the obtained regression functions for uneven OC enrichment could be divided into two types. One was for calculating the OC concentrations in sediment particles with sizes of <2 mm (R(2) > 0.844, P < 0.005), and the other was for calculating the OC concentrations in large macroaggregates (>2 mm; R(2) = 0.805, P < 0.005). The findings provide an important reference for understanding SOC transport mechanisms and its mineralization potential under the effect of water erosion and improving SOC dynamic models.